Rule for measuring openings.



UNITED STA-Tus?Y Patented October 6, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.,

ESPIRIDION HIPOLITO, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO THEHIPOLITO SCREEN AND SASH COMPANY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA,

A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

RULE Foe MEAsUnlNo oPENlYNcs.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 740,653, dated October6, 1303.-

Application filed October 12, 1900. Serial No. 32,850. (No'model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, EsPInIDIoN HIPOLITO, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residin gat Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State 5of California, have inventedI a new and useful Rule for MeasuringOpenings, of which the following is a specification.

- The object of my invention is to provide an extremely cheap,easily-manufactured, simlxo ple, light, durable, and convenientmeasuring-stick^fr measuring the width of window and door openings andthe like.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention. Figure I is aview ofmy measuri ing-stick contracted for insertion in the opening to bemeasured. Fig. II'is a longitudinal midsection of the same on line IIII, Fig,

I. Fig. III is a view showing the parts of the measuring-stick detachedfrom eachV other.

2o Fig. IV is an end view of the rule looking at the open end of thecase.

Y a indicates a wooden member channeled from end to end by a channel b,which is rectangular in cross-section.

c indicates a slab to form a cover for the same to tit over andcompletely cover the mouth of the channel b, thus', together with themember a, forming an opened-endedtube, sheath,or case. B y preferencethe channeled 3o member a and the cover c are made of hard strong wood,the channel being cut by an or.

dinary growing-machine.

d indicates a combined end closure and fastoning device consisting of acap formed of a piece'of sheet metal equal in width l'to the width ofthe cover and bent into U form to embrace and fit tightly upon the slaband the grooved member at the end ofthe tube to close the same.

e indicates brads fastening the cap, cover and grooved member together.

findicates'a sliding bar inserted into the tube at the open end andfurnished with length-designating marks g, increasing toward the innerend of the bar, each of said marks indicating the total length of thestick when the bar is drawn out to bring such mark to register with theend of the tube. The side walls of the tube are respectively fury nishedwith a notch h at the open end ofthe rfand extending lengthwise of thebar.

Y'seat in the notches.

5o tube.

t' indicates a pin inserted through a hole j, extending through the bar.The -pin c' is substantially equal in length to the Width of the case aand lits into the notches h when the bar is fully inserted into thetube. The notches are sutcien'tly deep to allow the pin` to be set farenough from the end to avoid any danger of splitting and yet allow theend of the harto come iiush with the end of the case when the stick isfully contracted. The bar f is furnished at its inner end with aspring-holding seat la. Zindicates a spring in said seat. Preferablythis spring is a bow spring made of a bowed piece of spring-wire. v Thespring seat k is preferably a narrow channel or groove cut into the faceof the bar The wire l is simply inserted in the seat It thus formedtherefor.

In practical use to' measure an opening the rule will be brought intothe opening and extending c'rosswise thereof, and the operator -theopening to be measured, and will bring the ends of the rule against theinner walls of the openingy to be measured. When the ends of the ruleare both in contact with the 8o sides of the opening to be measured, thelength of the stick or rule will be read from the face ot the bar. Whenthe measurement has been determined, the bar will be slid into the casetherefor, returning the pint' toits When the bar is thus inserted in thecase, the length-indicating marks are entirely protected from wear, andthe bar, with the tube therefor, forms a strong and substantial rule. 9o

The frictional device comprising the spring Zserves to hold the bar intrue position when inserted into the case or partially drawn out.

YThe 'rectangular cross-section of the bar and channel enables theentire appliance to be made at a minimum cost of labor and material.

The slab can be most conveniently supplied With length-designating marksg. These are arranged increasing toward' the open end of the case. Bythis construction both members which are furnished with the.length-designating marks are solid and are therefore adapted for theprinting or stamping of said marks thereon Without injury.

From the foregoing description it is evident that the three main membersof which my device is composed may each be manufactured very cheaply, asthey may be given their cross-sectional form in long pieces and cuttherefrom instead of being shaped individually. It should also be notedthat I provide a construction for extensible wooden rules in which therule'is furnished with a substantial base adapted to receive a slidingtongue, the base being formed in a single piece, so that the tendency toWarp in either direction is reduced to a minimum and provide for therecess or chamber of the base a cheap, substantial, and easily-appliedcover to complete the body of the rule, forming a closed Way for theextensible bar, keeping out dirt and dust.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is-

1. A measuring-stick composed of a member channeled from end to end; acover fastened over said channel to thereby form a tube; a cap fastenedacross one end of said tube to close t-he tube at that end; a slidingbar inserted into the tube from the other end and furnished withlength-designating numbers increasing toward the closed end of the tubeand furnished with a spring-seat atthe inner end; and a spring in saidspring-seat v and pressing against the inner Wall of the tube.

2. A measuring-stick comprising a member grooved from end to end andfurnished with oppositely-arranged notches at one end ofthe side Wallsof said groove; a cover to close the open side of said groove; a cap toclose the end of the tube opposite the notches; a bar fitted in the tubeand furnished with lengthindicating numbers increasing toward the innerend of said bar; a pin inserted through the end of the bar to t into thenotches when the bar is fully inserted; and frictional means for holdingthe bar in the tube'.

3. A measuring-stick comprising in combination a Wooden member channeledfrom end to end with a channel which is angular in cross-section; a slabfixed to said channeled member over the mouth of said channel; a capfastened over and closing one end of the closed tube thus formed; and abar angular in cross-section tting the tube and furnished on one sidewith length-indicating numbers increasing toward the inner end of thebar.

4. The combination of a member furnished on one side with a channelrectangular in cross-section extending from end to end of the member,oppositely-arranged notches being provided in the side walls of saidchannel; a cover for the channel fixed on said member; a bar fitted inthe tube thus formed, and furnished with length-indicating numbersincreasing toward the inner end of said bar; and a pin through said barto enter said notches.

5. A measuring-stick comprising in combination a case formed of achanneled Wooden member; a Wooden slab fastened on said member to closethe open mouth of the channel, and a metal sheet bent into U form andembracing the slab and-channeled member, and extending over one end ofthe case to close the same and assist in holding together said slab andchanneled member.

6. The combination ofa Wooden member channeled on one side; a Woodenslab ixed on said member over the mouth of said channel; a bar furnishedwith a groove and fitted in said channel; and a bow-spring in saidgroove to press against the side wall of the channel. Y

7. A measuring-stick comprising a member grooved from end to end, saidgroove being rectangular in cross-section, and furnished with achamfered notch cut into the end of the groove at right anglestherewith; a bar fitted in the tube and furnished with lengthindicatingnumbers; a pin transversely fixed to the bar near the end thereof to titinto the notch When the bar is fully` inserted; and frictional means forholding the bar in the tube.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two su bscribing Witnesses, at Los Angeles, California, thisv6th day of October, 1900.

ESPIRIDION HIPOLITO.

Witnesses:

JAMES R. ToWNsEND, J ULIAy ToWNsEND.

IOO

